Local Citrus Heights food drive nears $15k goal, seeks more donations

By Sara Beth Williams–
The Citrus Heights Grocery Outlet’s annual Independence from Hunger food drive has raised nearly $12,000 so far in 2024.

Citrus Heights Grocery Outlet store owner Sara Wheeler said the store’s goal for the food drive this year is $15,000. Wheeler said all the proceeds, both cash and food donations, are given directly to the Sunrise Christian Food Ministry food bank, located in Citrus Heights.

The food drive occurs annually each summer across the nation at all Grocery Outlet stores and helps raise local funds and accumulate food donations for local food banks. In a press release dated June 28, Grocery Outlet stated that inflation is causing “a double squeeze” in communities across the nation.

Data from the United States Department of Agriculture and Feeding America shows that the number of Americans who receive groceries from food banks has increased to 41 million, or 1 in 6 households, according to the release.

“Food insecurity is really high in the summer,” Wheeler said, adding that when kids are in school, they are able to have more access to hot meals for breakfast and lunch.

“When school is out, they don’t have that resource,” Wheeler said.

This year, the grocery store partnered with Future Honda on Greenback Lane, located across the street from Grocery Outlet, for a one-day matching campaign, which raised $900, according to Wheeler.

Last year’s campaign raised $13,000, and Wheeler said she wants to “hit it out of the park” during the last few days of the food drive.

Customers wishing to donate can still do so through July 31. There are three ways to participate.

• Give $5, get $5. Customers who donate $5 or more in a single transaction in-store or online will receive a coupon for $5 off a future purchase of $25 or more.
• Pick up a pre-made bag; Customers can also grab a pre-made bag of food filled with an assortment of groceries and then place it in a collection bin at the front of the store.
• Monetary donations: Customers can make monetary donations at any register inside Grocery Outlet, located at 6059 Greenback Ln. in Citrus Heights.

The Independence from Hunger campaign runs from June 28 through July 31.